Clinical Pharmacists
Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists are registered healthcare professionals with the GPhC.
They work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role within general practice and Primary Care Networks (PCN), providing clinical leadership on medicines optimisation and quality improvement and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.
Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists work within their clinical competencies as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide expertise in clinical medicines management, provide face to face structured medication reviews, manage long term conditions, management of medicines on transfer of care and systems for safer prescribing, manage repeat prescription authorisations and reauthorisation, acute prescription requests, while addressing both the public health and social care needs of patients in the GP practice(s) that make up the PCN.
Their role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies to deliver an excellent service within general practice.
Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists will be supported to develop their role and to become a non-medical prescriber, if that qualification is not already held.
Career Pathway
All Clinical Pharmacists employed through the primary care Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service will join the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education pathway, unless they have already completed the Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) pathway.
Salary is usually dependent on experience. For pharmacists that are not already independent prescribers, they can undertake this qualification through a University Course which is usually completed within a 6 month period. There are also additional opportunities to do further qualifications such as a Clinical Diploma or Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner Course.
Useful Links
https://www.cppe.ac.uk/career/pcpep/pcpep-training-pathway
https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/pharmacy/pharmacy-integration-fund/pharmacy-integration-fund-courses-pharmacist